Seam-guide for collar-dampening machines.



PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

A. M. TORRANGE. SEAM GUIDE FOR COLLAR DAMPENING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUHE27. 1908.

PIE. 5

INYENTUR.

s E w E w ALBERT M. TORRANGE, OF BENNINGTON, VERMONT.

SE .AM-GUIDE FOR COLLAR-D AMPEN IN G- MAOHIN E S.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed June 27, 1906. Serial No. 323,567,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT M. TORRANCE, of the village of Bennington, in the county of Bennington and State of Vermont have invented certain Improvements in Seam-Guides for Oollar-Dampening Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, constitutes a specification.

The invention is designed for use in connection with machines which are used in the manufacture of collars for moistening a streak adjacent to the edge of the seam which unites the band with the top of a folding collar on the line upon which it is proposed to fold the collar in the process of finishing it, and it consists in the employment of a stationary support upon which the collar rests in its passage to and between or under the moistening devices, which are commonly rotary devices carrying the vehicle for imparting the moisture, in combination with two seam-edge guides mounted on a laterally movable base placed under manual control for purposes of adjustment both for wide or narrow seams in the collars and for either right or left hand service.

The invention is fully disclosed in the drawings wherein in Figure 1 is seen a perspective view thereof in connection with the table of a dampening machine and the moistening devices thereof. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the plane of the axis of the screw which adjusts the position of the seam-edge guides. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the supporting bar.

In the drawings I have shown only such parts of a dampening machine as are necessary to a clear understanding of the invention and its mode of use.

The work table which carries the supporting bar and supports the collar in its passage under the moistening bands is shown in Fig. l in dotted lines at 1. This table is perforated at 13 to permit the seanredge guides to extend up therethrough to meet the under side of the collar, and is wide enough laterally to permit a proper range of adjustment of these guides with reference to the supporting bar. It is also perforated as at 21, Fig. 1, to permit the lower band 19 and pulley 17 to meet its fellow pulley 16 and band 18, the tangent point being just above the plane of the top of the table. The opening 13 in the table is bridged with a supporting guide bar 12, as seen in Fig. 3, which bar is stationary and is located in the vertical plane of the center of the moistening devices as shown in Fig. 2. In passing collars through this machine one edge of the seam rides or bears against the upper edge of this bar.

Beneath the table a slide 2 is arranged to move in the guides 20, 20, with which an adjusting screw 7 is connected. This screw turns in bracket 6 attached to the table and screws into the nut5attached to the slide, so that turning of the screw moves the slide lengthwise. This slide is located beneath opening 13 and has attached to its upper side the two seam-edge guides 9 and 10, by the screws 11, 11. These guides fall within the area of the opening 13 and are disposed one on each side of supporting bar 12 as seen in Fig. 1. Each has a rear extension 1, 7', which projects over the table towards the moistening devices practically on a level with the top edge of bar 12, and assists in supporting and guiding the collar as near those devices as is practicable. Thus, a channel way is created on each side of bar 12 for the reception of the seam of a collar, and its width can be graduated by moving slide 2 by means of the set screw 7 in the desired direction. By moving the slide to the right the space between bar 12 and guide 10 will be widened, and by moving it in the opposite direction the space will be narrowed to fit wide or narrow seams respectively. The space between bar 12 and guide 9 can be regulated in the same way by manipulation of the head 8 of screw 7. Either channel may be adjusted and used at pleasure according as it is desired to run the collars through with the band lying either to the right or the left.

The slide is bent over upon itself as shown at 3 to form a spring arm which terminates in a presser pad 22, Fig. 2. The normal action of the spring arm 3 is to produce pressure of the pad upon the upper side of the collar and thus hold the seam down between one of the seam-edge guides and bar 12.

The moistening devices may be of any suitable construction which is adapted to the purpose, but here I have shown two porous endless bands 18 and 19 which run under and over pulleys l6 and 17 respectively. Each of these bands is kept properly saturated with a dampening fluid from some proper source of supply and they run in contact as shown when no collar is passing between them. Usually the upper pulley shaft is put under the control of the operator so that the pressure between the bands at the tangent point can be regulated or controlled at will.

In the manufacture of folding collars different makers make the seams which unite the tops with the bands of different widths. The collars are also made of cloth of variable thickness, so that these seams will vary both in width and thickness as between different styles in the same factory and as between the product of different factories. Hence it has become almost a necessity to have dampeners in which the guides to steer the collar to and through between the moistening bands have means for their adjustment to these varying widths and thicknesses of seams. From the foregoing it will be seen that the-combination of the center bar 12 with the two seam-edge guides 9 and 10 in the manner shown creates two seam channels a, and c, Fig. 2, within which the belly of the seam of a collar can lie with its edges bearing against the upper corners of bar 12 and one of the seam-edge guides, either 9 or 10, as the case may be.

In practice the operator first determines from the style and character of the seam of the collar which of the two seam channels is most suitable to be used in treating the collars and then adjusts its width to the breadth of This is done by the seam with which it is to be used. means ,of the adjusting screw 7. When so adjusted, the collars are entered by hand between the spring-pad 22 and the guides, with the protuberant part of the seam lying downward in its proper channel. The pressure exerted by the spring-arm 3 upon the pad 22 holds the collar in place while it is being pushed through to where it is caught between the bands 18 and 19. When so caught their rotation will pull the collar through, the pad 22 meanwhile keeping the seam in line by means of the edge guide and the bar 12.

I therefore claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. In a seam dampening machine, the combination with the moistening devices of a stationary central seam-edge supporting guide located in the vertical plane of action of the moistening devices, and in front thereof, of two lateral seam-edge guides disposed, one on each side of said central guide, a base to which said lateral guides are attached, and means connected. with said base for moving it in a direction across the line of travel of the collar through the machine, whereby the seam channels between the stationary central guide and the lateral guides may be widened or narrowed at will, substantially as specified.

2. In a seam-dampening machine, the combination with the moistening devices of a worlcsupporting table perforated for the protrusion in use of two seam-edge guides, a stationary collar supporting guidebridging said perforation in front of said moistening devices, a movable side beneath said table having mounted thereon a right and left handseam-edge guide, the upper inner corner of each of which lies in substantially the same horizontal plane as the upper bearing edge of said central guide, and means connected with said slide for adjusting its position in relation to said stationary central guide transversely, for the purpose of regulating the width of either seam channel, substantially as specified.

In a seam-dampening machine, the combination with the moistening devices, of three seam edge guides lying in substantially the same horizontal plane as to their guiding edges, the middle one of which guides is stationary and each of the others laterally adjustable in relation thereto; and means for eflIecting lateral adjustment of each of said side guides, substantially as specified.

4. In a seam-dampening machine, the combination with the moistening devices, of three seam-edge guides having their guiding edges lying in substantially the same horizontal plane, the middle one of said guides being stationary and each of the others laterally adjustable in relation thereto, means for effecting lateral adjustment of each of said side guides, and a presser pad located above said guides adapted in use to bear upon the upper surface of the article passing through the machine, substantially as specified.

5. In a seam dampening machine, the combination with rotary moistening devices, of three seam-edge guides, of which the middle one is fixed and the side guides are adjustable, means connected with the side guides for carrying and adjusting each of them, a pad located over said guides and means connected therewith for pressing it against or towards said guides, substantially as set forth.

6. In a seam dampening machine, the combination with the moistening devices, of a stationary central collarsupporting guide located in the vertical plane of action of the moistening devices and in front thereof, of two lateral seam edge guides disposed, one on each side of said central guide, and means connected with said central and lateral guides for supporting them in their operative relations with the moistening devices, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses ALBERT M. TORRANCE.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN Scorn, EMILY Seo'r'r. 

